New York Latino Journal announces a special event of Puerto Rican and Latino solidarity in New York
City:

A Vigil for the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Filiberto Ojeda Ríos

Presented by

The Members of the Puerto Rican and Latino Community of New York City, in solidarity with the ProLibertad Freedom Campaign, the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party of New York, and the New York Committee of the Puerto Rican Independence Party

Program will include:
–testimonials from people returning from Puerto Rico –update from community leaders –elected officials on the call for an investigation –open mike for reflection –anouncement of work meeting –distribution of informational handout

A FALLEN MAN, A RISING NATION:
THE DEATH OF FILIBERTO OJEDA RÍOS AND
THE LIFE OF THE PUERTO RICAN STRUGGLE

THE CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

The Puerto Rican and Latino community cannot rely on much of the media — especially the English-language media — to communicate all of the dimensions of the killing of Machetero Filiberto Ojeda Ríos. So we will rely on ourselves. We must play an active part in informing and raising awareness in order to better inform and prepare our younger generation.

— Have conversations with neighbors and family, at church and at home.
— Use the Internet and other resources to learn more about the history and the continuing struggle of the Puerto Rican community.
— Send out emails to everyone you know.
— Reproduce this handout and circulate it.

WHAT HAPPENED:

On Friday, September 23rd, 2005, Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, a Puerto Rican independence leader, and leader of the militant group known as Los Macheteros, was hunted down by U.S. Federal Agents in the western town of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, and killed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation claims they came to “arrest” him, while Federal investigators also estimate more than 100 shots were fired by the agents. Of those 100 or more shots, one hit the Macheteros leader, puncturing his lung. The Federal agents came and arrested his life partner, Elma Beatriz Rosado Barbosa, and left Filiberto to bleed to death, as agents remained outside, awaiting orders.

Filiberto Ojeda Ríos was wanted by the F.B.I. for allegedly being involved in the Wells Fargo 1983 robbery in Hartford, Connecticut, where 7.2 million dollars were stolen, and allegedly used to fund the independence movement and buy toys, books, and medicine for poor children in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

As of yet, no official word from the Federal Government has been made regarding the date they chose to hunt down and kill Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, September 23, otherwise known as El Grito de Lares, (the Cry of Lares) the most celebrated day in Puerto Rico’s independence and nationalist movement.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:

— El Grito de Lares, (the Cry of Lares), was the Puerto Rican revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico which occurred on September 23, 1868, in the town of Lares, Puerto Rico. This uprising was lead by Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances (considered the “father” of Puerto Rico) and Segundo Ruíz Belvis, who on January 6, 1868 founded the Comité Revolucionario de Puerto Rico (Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico) from their exile in the Dominican Republic. The revolt was defeated by the Spaniards, but has lived on as the first significant struggle toward a free Puerto Rican Republic.

— There are serious questions as to how the FBI handled this – reports of how they fired over 100 shots into his home, how they let Filiberto bleed to death, how this was deliberately staged on El Grito de Lares…questions about why local police in Puerto Rico were not informed and how the orders to hunt down and kill Filiberto came straight from Washington D.C. The Governor of Puerto Rico, along with the insular Senate and House of Representatives, as well as U.S. Members of Congress José Serrano, Nydia Velásquez and Luis Gutiérrez have all called for an in-depth investigation on the matter. (Congressman Serrano sits on the House Appropriations Committee as a member of the Subcommittee on Justice)

— The U.S. Government has a documented history of persecuting, disrupting and hunting down members of the Puerto Rican independence movement. A systematic effort was initiated to create fear in people who believe that Puerto Rico has a right to be its own country. This U.S.
Government initiative to suppress the
independence movement and intervene in Puerto Rico’s media and insular government has been disclosed and admitted to through the Freedom of Information Act and the efforts of U.S.
Congressman Jose Serrano in retrieving thousands of previously classified files from the F.B.I.
and making them public through the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College and the University of Puerto Rico.

— Isn’t Puerto Rico free already? The United States federal government controls interstate trade, foreign commerce (trade with other nations), customs, aviation and navigation, immigration, currency and banking (Puerto Rico is limited in its power to establish a monetary and banking policy in tune with its economic development. Puerto Rico cannot regulate the monetary supply in accordance with its specific economic condition), all military and naval matters (thousands of Puerto Ricans have died in the U.S. Military but they are not allowed to vote for their Commander-in-Chief — the U.S.
President), radio, television, and Internet communications, mining and minerals (including oil refineries), highways, the postal system, social security, and other areas generally controlled by the federal government in the United States. United States courts have the final say over the constitutionality of Puerto Rican laws. Puerto Rico may not conclude treaties with other sovereign states, although it does belong to some international bodies, but as an observer only.

From “The Hunt for Puerto Rican Independence Leaders ,” an upcoming essay in the NY Latino Journal by Miguel Guzmán:

“If we are to call Mr. Ojeda Ríos a criminal, let us do so in the context of Puerto Rico politics, especially as we reflect on former Governor Pedro Rosello’s 8-year administration (1993-2001) of the Island, which resulted in more than 40 convictions and arrests, and a whole lot more than 7.2 million dollars stolen, lost, or — that favorite word out of Washington — “misappropriated.”

Attached is a leaflet from New York City Labor Against the War about what is sure to be a large an important anti-war demonstration in Washington next week.

I know that 1199 will have a prominent presence there. They are sending several buses. A few of us in ALAA are interested in forming a contingent of our members or at least having some visibility there. If any ALAA members are interested in this, please let me know.

With every day that passes, the enormity of the devastation in the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina becomes clearer. What makes this horror even more shocking is the knowledge that the massive loss of life could have been prevented.

State, local, and Federal authorities all knew that a hurricane of this magnitude was likely to strike the region. They knew that more than 100,000 people would be unable to evacuate. They knew that the levees would not withstand the onslaught of a hurricane of this magnitude. They had the knowledge of the impending disaster. They had the ability to evacuate people. They simply chose to do nothing. They chose to turn their heads while thousands of people died, simply because these people were poor and Black.

Across the country, communities are organizing to demand justice for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Some of the events planned include:

c.. Collecting materials to ship to New Orleans and the surrounding region – It is clear that the government cannot be trusted to meet the needs of the people or provide for their safety. The people must take matters into their own hands, and many have already begun to do so.

d.. Vigils

e.. Observing a moment of silence, including walking out of classes or stopping work

Join us to build a national movement to demand justice for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. On Monday, September 12, community organizers, trade unionists, and antiwar activists will be on the streets to demand:

a.. Immediate relief-food, medicine, water, clothing, and emergency

shelter for the people of the region.

b.. A massive jobs program to help rebuild the region.

c.. Back pay and extended unemployment for the one million displaced

workers.

d.. The right of the people of New Orleans to return to their homes and

to have decisive control over how resources are allocated to rebuild their city.

e.. Relief money to be given directly to organizations representing the

the Million Worker March Movement; Troops Out Now Coalition; Saladin Muhammed, Black Workers For Justice; Harlem Tenants Council; Chris Silvera, Chair, Teamsters National Black Caucus; International Action Center; Cuba Solidarity New York; Rev. Lucius Walker, Pastors for Peace; Rev. Luis Barrios, Iglesia San Romero de Las Américas; and local leaders and activists from around the country.

Thousands were left to die beause they were poor and black!
We must demand Justice for the Victims of Katrina!

In NYC
5:00 PM
in front of the FEMA office
26 Federal Plaza

Demonstrations in more than 100 cities

Money for Jobs, Housing, and Reconstruction, not for War!

With every day that passes, the enormity of the devastation in the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina becomes clearer. What makes this horror even more shocking is the knowledge that the massive loss of life could have been prevented.

State, local, and Federal authorities all knew that a hurricane of this magnitude was likely to strike the region. They knew that more than 100,000 people would be unable to evacuate. They knew that the levees would not withstand the onslaught of a hurricane of this magnitude. They had the knowledge of the impending disaster. They had the ability to evacuate people. They simply chose to do nothing. They chose to turn their heads while thousands of people died, simply because these people were poor and Black.

Across the country, communities are organizing to demand justice for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Some of the events planned include:

a.. Rallies and pickets at Federal Buildings and other locations
b.. Press Conferences with community organizers, trade unionists, and antiwar activists
c.. Collecting materials to ship to New Orleans and the surrounding region – It is clear that the government cannot be trusted to meet the needs of the people or provide for their safety. The people must take matters into their own hands, and many have already begun to do so.

d.. Vigils
e.. Observing a moment of silence, including walking out of classes or stopping work

Join us to build a national movement to demand justice for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. On Monday, September 12, community organizers, trade unionists, and antiwar activists will be on the streets to demand:

a.. Immediate relief-food, medicine, water, clothing, and emergency
shelter for the people of the region.
b.. A massive jobs program to help rebuild the region.
c.. Back pay and extended unemployment for the one million displaced
workers.
d.. The right of the people of New Orleans to return to their homes and
to have decisive control over how resources are allocated to rebuild their city.
e.. Relief money to be given directly to organizations representing the
community, not to Halliburton.
f.. An end to the military occupation of New Orleans.
g.. Extended unemployment benefits for all who have lost jobs, and a
massive jobs and housing program for the near future.
h.. End the military occupation of New Orleans! People trying to feed
their families are not looters!
i.. An independent international investigation of the criminal
negligence that caused this disaster.

Monday September 12
National Day of Outrage over Neglect
Justice for the Victims of Katrina
Let us turn our collective anger into a force for change

We must unite on September 12 to demand:

*Immediate relief–food, medicine, water, clothing, and emergency relief for the people of the region.

*Full back pay and extended unemployment benefits for the close to 1 million displaced workers.

*A massive jobs program to rebuild the areas impacted by the Hurricane.

*Open up all private and public facilities for emergency housing, including luxury hotels and resorts.

*End the military occupation of New Orleans. People trying to feed their families are not looters.

*An independent international investigation of the criminal negligence that caused this disaster.

*Local people must have a say. People in the affected area must have a decisive say in how resources are allocated and in the rebuilding process.

*Money for Hurricane Relief, Not for War.

People will be coming out across the country to stand in solidarity with the people impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Demonstrations will take place in Cities and towns across the U.S., including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Amherst, New Haven, Charleston SC, Jackson MS, Miami FL, Minneapolis- St.Paul, Boston, Detroit, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Houston, Raleigh, Washington DC, San Francisco, Chicago, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, St Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and more.